Wave-detector.



J. H. CUNTZ.

WAVE DETECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED 00121, 1903 1,680,681. Patented Bed. 9, 1913.

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JOHN H. CUNTZ, OF HOZ BOKEN, NEW JERSEY.

Application filed October 1.

like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

My invention relates to improvements in 4 systems of space telegraphyand particularly to those means employed for detecting or responding to electroradiant energy transmitted from a transmitting point to a receiving point.

My invention will be best understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying illustration of one specific embodiment thereof, while its scope will be more particuarly pointed out 1n the appended claims, it being understood that the selected embodiment herein described is submitted as illustrative only of one form or species of the generic invent-ion claimed.

In the drawings is diagrammatically represented a receiving stat-ion for receiving electroradiant manifestations from the transmitting point, such receiving station being equipped with a simple form of my improved wave detector.

Referring to the drawings, a is an aerial orother receiving member connected to ground at 6, through the conductors '0 and d,

the receiving circuit having a sensitive or detecting portion, 6, interposed between the conductors c and d. The said portion 6 is herein formed by a moving mass having suitable conductive properties and having a movement along a suitable path to give definiteness tov the receiving circuit, yet having instability of the individual particles.

These conditions are produced herein by maintaining a flow of mercury or other fluid from the conduit f to the underlying receptacle 9, the fluid being allowed to How or drop through a suit-ably shaped nozzle "at the end of the conduit f. Mercury is particularly desirable for this purpose since it has but slight susceptibility to the chemical Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 9, 1913.

1903. Serial no. 115,299.

effect of the atmosphere, possesses good conductive properties, and has both metallic and fluid characteristics, the latter permitting it to flow easily under the influence of gravity and to forma conducting path in the manner described. It is to be understood however that my invention is not limited to the -use of mercury or to the use of any substance necessarily possessing any one or more of'the' characteristics of mercury, or to the manner in which the movement of the particles is effected. It is also to be understood that my invention is not limited to either the specific or general manner in which the electrical instability of the circuit is produced or-maintained; but that other means than those illustrated may be employed. I

Referring again to the drawings, the fluid which passes to the receptacle 9 is again elevated by the pump 71, to the reservoir z', which latter connects. with the conduit f, where it .is again available for the production or maintenance of the detecting portion 6 of the receiving circuit. The pump it may be operated in'any suitable manner, either as a result of the radiant energy transmitted, or from some external source, and either constantly or intermittently. By the above described means, a continual circulation of the fluid is maintained and its progressive movement produced along the sensitive portion 6 of the receiving circuit. In order that the fluid in its movement may offer a conductive path only through the stream e, and not through the pump it and the reservoir 2', the outlet from the receptacle 9 may be made suiiiciently large to cause definite interruptions in the flow therefrom and in the electrical continuity of the stream thereat, or other means for causing intermittent flow from the receptacle g, or at another point or points in the circulation system, may be utilized for this purpose.

A local circuit j connects a battery is in ductively relating the same thereto through 9', and under normal conditions the electrie cal properties of the local circuit are substantially constant, providing no variations in the current conditions in the local circuit for the actuation of the detecting device Z."

On the receipt of a Wave of electroradiant energy however, the detecting portion (2 of the receiving circuit has its conductivity altered, which in turn causes a sudden change in the current conditions through the local circuit, whereby the detecting device Z A is actuated.

Since the sensitive portion 6 of the receiving circuit is continually undergoing reformation, and that reformation tends to take place under renewed conditions of sensitiveness to the'electroradiant energy, the receiving circuit is self-restoring in its sensitive condition on the cessation of radiant energy. It is to be observed however that although the self-restoration is substantially immediate on the cessation of 'electroradiant energy, yet, during the receipt of such energy,t-he self-restoration is slight; and that the reformation of the sensitive portion of the circuit is progressive. It willb 'obvious, furthermore, that although the mer-. cury or other substances employed, which constitute the sensitive portion 6 of the receiving circuit, are progressively moved into and out of the receiving circuit, momentarily forming a part thereof, yet the conditions under which this movement takes place may be made substantially constant, so that relatively good and poor conductivities occur under substantially like conditions at all times. These conditions however, though constant for any'given adjustment of the apparatus, may be varied within wide limits, as desired, by the employment of suitable means for governing the character of the flow or movement of the particles at e. The length and the cross-section of the portion 0 of the receiving circuit, as well as its rate of movement, may all be varied as desired. Various shaped nozzles may be employed .to impart a different character of flow to the sensitive portion of the receiving circuit, or instead of the effect of gravity, suitable mechanical means may be employed for effecting a flow of the liquid in any desired direction.

The conductivity of e, and hence the current in the local circuit, may have wldely different values at different times provlded the changes are madegradually and slowly so as not to actuate the detecting devlce Z.

The term conductivity is herein employed in its broad sense, which ascribes to all bodies or substances conductivity differing only in degree. The conductivity of the elements under discussion may therefore at 3 q times be of the highest, or so lOW as to cause practical interrupt-ion of the current therethrough.

I It is to be understood that my invention is capable of Wide modification from the illustrative embodiment herein described, and

that the same is not limited to the detailsherein set forth.

Having described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is 1 In a wave detector a detecting circuit composed in part of a progressively moving element normally of metallic conductivity, and means for maintaining continuous circulation thereof.

2. In a wave detector a detecting circuit composed in part of a continuously circulating element, normally of metallic conductivity, moving in a definite path in a continuous cycle.

3. A wave detector having detectingmeans comprising a circulating fluid stream normally of metallic conductivity.

4. A wave detector having detectingmeans including mercury in continuous circulation. I

5. A wave detector having a liquid stream element normally of metallic conductivity and mechanical means for restoring the same to its original position.

6. Aw'va-ve detector composed in part of a liquid element normally of metallic conductivity continuously moving in a path unconfined in part.

7. A Wave detector having detecting means formed by a liquid stream normally of metallic conductivity.

8. A wave detector including a liquid of normal metallic conductivity which has a' continuous stream movement in the same general direction.

'9. A self-restoring normally-metallicly conductive fluid stream wave detector, the self-restoration of which is gradually eifected through mechanical motion. 7

10. A wave detector of normal metallic conductivity self-restoring through its continuous bodily movement in the same general direction.

11. A wave detector having electrodes and detecting means between the electrodes ineluding a liquid conductor normally of metallic conductivity mechanically moving in a stream from one electrode toward thename to this specification, in the presence of other. X two subscribing witnesses.

12. 1 Wave detector having at detecting 7 T circuit composed in part-of an element of JOHA CUB 5 normal metallic conductivity continuously \Vitnesses:

moving in the direction of the circuit. GEORGE G. SCIIREIBER, In testimony whereof, I have signed my V. B. SYMMES, Jr. 

